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Giuliani Seeks Common Ground at Values Voter Summit

October 20, 2007 3:36 PM

ABC News' Kevin Chupka reports: In a speech Saturday morning at the Values Voter Summit in Washington, Rudy Giuliani spoke candidly about his opinions and their tendency to differ from those of his audience. "I'm not going to pretend that I can be all things to all people... I"m just not like that," he said.  "We may not always agree... but I'll give you reason to trust me," adding, "trust is more important than 100 percent agreement."  He also appealed the Christian conservatives when he pointed out that Christianity is based on being inclusive. "Christianity is all about inclusiveness. It's built around the most profound act of love in human history, isn't it?" he asked.   

On his own faith, Giuliani commented, "You and I know I'm not a perfect person... I pray for forgiveness, I pray for strength... I feel my faith deeply, although perhaps more privately than others, because of the way I was brought up." He also pointed out that at one point in his life he considered joining the seminary, "I know that’s hard to believe," he said, as the audience chuckled.  Having been educated in Catholic institutions his entire life, he spoke of the first day of law school at New York University: Expecting to begin the day with a prayer, he crossed himself, "I looked around and realized people were staring at me." 

Giuliani frequently referred to both his time working with Ronald Reagan and his clean-up of New York as mayor in an effort to prove a values-centered track record.  Specifically, he spoke of taking New York from a murder capital to the safest big city in the country and of ridding Times Square of pornography.  "We drove pornography out of Times Square and other public spaces... The pornographers lost and were chased out."

He also tackled abortion, and while not going so far as to suggest its legal eradication he said he supported parental notification, the ban on partial birth abortions and vowed to make adoption easier by eliminating red tape and making the tax credit for adoption permanent.  He also promised to promote judges and justices "in the mold of Justice Scalia, Justice Thomas, Justice Alito and Chief Justice Roberts."

Twice during the almost 40-minute speech, Giuliani called out some of his political opponents, if not by name.  He pointed out, "Isn't it better that I tell you what I really believe instead of changing all my positions?" and, "I'll always be honest with you. ... You will always know where I stand,"  to which the crowd cheered.  Also, in an obvious allusion to Hillary Clinton, when speaking of a parent's right to choose their children's school he said, "It takes a family, not a village, to raise a child."

Giuliani addressed criticisms from many that he's too liberal when he said, "You have nothing to fear from me... Just read any New York Times editorial when I was mayor of New York City."  Also, in an effort to appeal to those fed up with Washington insiders, Giuliani pointed out, "I spend as little time in Washington, DC as I can because I'm afraid there's something in the air here."

He closed his remarks by again asking those in attendance to trust him despite a difference of opinion: "I will continue to extend my hand to you, and I hope you take it."

October 20, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (1)

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Posted by: Carol | Oct 21, 2007 4:12:32 AM

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